Travelling to Takayama
Our group of Travelers Club members just recently returned from Japan, where we attended one of the most magical autumn events in Japan – the Float Festival in Takayama, Japan. It was a true celebration, attracting crowds for over 400 years! These festivals now attract several hundred thousand people from all over Japan and many countries around the world!
We felt like we were touching living history – centuries-old parade floats majestically floated through the streets against the backdrop of vibrant autumn foliage. Even though the floats are three or four stories high and have musicians inside, they are pulled by people, not horses. When turning curves, they have to be turned by lifting one pair of wheels with a hand jack. But this tradition has been preserved since the 16th century, and the Japanese hold tradition in high regard. The floats are carefully restored, but these are the same 12 floats that residents pulled through the city many centuries ago. The Takayama Festival is listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site, and it's no surprise. Each float, or yatai, is meticulously decorated, and some are even equipped with karakuri ningyo—mechanical dolls that dance and perform tricks. We were thrilled to see two small dolls flip in mid-air and land on the shoulders of Hotei, the god of good fortune. The dolls were stunning and had facial expressions. Each doll is controlled by five or six people hidden inside the float. The dolls aren't suspended by strings and can move and perform somersaults, making the puppeteers' job very difficult and risky. Spectators watched the dolls' somersaults with bated breath, and when one of the dolls accidentally fell, it caused a real storm of emotion among the huge crowd!
We couldn't take our eyes off the procession of the mikoshi—a portable shrine—carried through the city. This is the only time of year when the Shinto deity leaves its shrine to walk with the people.
We were especially impressed by the night procession, when lantern-lit floats literally floated through the streets of the old town, like enormous ships in a sea of people. It was a mesmerizing sight—the colorful lanterns created an atmosphere of magic and fairytale.
The festival lasted two days, and even the rainy, overcast weather couldn't spoil this magnificent event. We strolled through the city, enjoying the festive atmosphere, and the floats remained in full view the entire time—the vault doors were open to everyone.
The Takayama Festival is more than just an event; it's a living Japanese heritage that amazes and inspires. We dream of returning to Japan again and seeing everything we missed during our two-week trip! We'll have many more stories to share about our travels in Japan and other countries.